Ivan Woods, the Malta U21 Coach, has emphasised the importance of increasing the team’s pace to effectively compete in their forthcoming UEFA European U21 Championship Qualifiers against formidable opponents, Hungary and Spain.
In this international window, Malta is set to complete its final two Group B Qualifiers. The first match is scheduled against Hungary this Thursday at 20:00 at the Hidegkuti Nándor Stadium in Budapest. Following this, they will face Spain in an away match on Tuesday, 15th October 2024, at 17:00 at the Municipal Nuevo Mirador in Algeciras.
Ahead of the match with Hungary, Woods noted that although Malta has encountered tough teams in Group B, it has served as a valuable learning experience for the players, who have performed commendably. Nonetheless, he acknowledged that the team must enhance its performance both offensively and defensively.
Despite not having secured any points in these Qualifiers, he expressed confidence that the team has been competitive in every match played so far.
“We have been able to find the net against all teams except Hungary and Spain, whom we will soon face. Scoring in each of our away fixtures is also a positive sign for us,” Woods elaborated.
Reflecting on Malta’s upcoming match on Thursday, he noted that Hungary possesses a mix of physical strength and technical skill.
“They are a very direct team and play at a rapid pace. This means our challenge is always to increase our tempo against any opponent and adapt accordingly. We anticipate the game will be played at quite a high speed,” Woods concluded.
Woods mentioned that several players were unable to be called up due to injuries or because they had been selected for the Senior National Team, which he sees as a positive sign of their development. Woods expressed confidence in the current squad members, considering these two matches as an “opportunity to demonstrate that they merit inclusion in the U21 National Team.”
Woods also noted that in these Qualifiers, Malta has had 18 players eligible to participate in another round for the U21 team, with some even able to compete in two rounds. “We have fielded a notably youthful squad to face very formidable opponents,” he concluded.
